Julie's Journey (American Girl Collection Series: Julie) by Megan McDonald, Robert Hunt (Illustrator), Susan McAliley (Illustrator), Susan McAliley (Illustrator), Robert Hunt (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

It’s 1976, and the entire country is celebrating America’s 200th birthday. Julie joins her cousins on a pioneer-style wagon train in honor of the Bicentennial. The journey is filled with adventures, challenges, and self-discovery as Julie faces her fears to make an important contribution to her country’s birthday. The "Looking Back" section provides additional information about Bicentennial celebrations in the United States.

This book is the fifth in a series of six historical books filled with inspiring lessons of compassion, courage, and friendship. Julie’s entire book set includes: Meet Julie; Julie Tells Her Story; Happy New Year, Julie; Julie and the Eagles; Julie’s Journey; and Changes for Julie.

Children's Literature

Book six in this "American Girls" series about the 1970s takes place during America's Bicentennial. Julie and her sister Tracy join their cousins on a celebratory wagon train to Valley Forge. Julie is thrilled with the chance to experience this taste of the life of her favorite author, Laura Ingalls Wilder. But she soon learns that there is more to pioneer life than calico dresses, and she is surprised to discover that horses are a lot bigger and scarier in real life than they are in stories and on TV. She learns a little about courage and sacrifice when one of the wagon wheels gets stuck and the family must leave behind some of their things in order to lighten the load. While not as feisty as McDonald's famous Judy Moody, Julie is a likeable character and fans may relate to both her love of another popular series and her desire to know more about life in the past. One of the series' strengths is its "Looking Back" section, which gives historical context to the story. This book features photographs and information about some of the ways the country commemorated its bicentennial, including a wagon train like the one described in the story. It also touches on the fact that some groups, like Native Americans, were not eager to participate in the celebration.

Sharon R. PearceCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

Gr 2-5
McDonald does an excellent job of developing characters who reflect the 1970s, and keeping the action moving. In Changes , fifth-grader Julie has a new friend, who is deaf, and she runs for school president. In the second title, she takes a baby owl to a wildlife rescue center where she encounters bald eaglets and learns that these birds are an endangered species. In Journey , Julie joins her cousins on a wagon train in Pennsylvania, re-creating the pioneer journey in a Bicentennial celebration and collecting signatures to present to President Ford. Each book has occasional full-page paintings as well as spot art. Back matter includes historical facts and photographs pertaining to the events mentioned, such as DDT, inclusion for disabled people, and presidential elections. These books will hold students' interest.

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